Roll-up overhead door for sanitary applications

Abstract

A roll-up overhead door assembly which is selectively moved up and down to open and close an opening and which is guided along sides of the opening by columns, the door having an open position, a closed position and a cleaning position. The door includes a drum positioned proximate the top of the opening. The door panel is attached to the drum such that when the door assembly is in an open position the door panel is wound around the drum. The drip guard partially surrounds the drum and is positioned and sized to catch residue falling from the drum or door panel overhead. The door panel is sized such that in the closed position the door panel is connected to a point on the drum so that the panel does not significantly overlap the drum.

We claim:  
     
       1. A roll-up overhead door assembly which is selectively moved up and down to open and close an opening and which is guided along a channel in side columns at opposed edges of the opening, the assembly having an open position, a closed position, and a cleaning position, the assembly comprising: 
       a drum positioned proximate the top of the opening;  
       a flexible door panel connected to the drum;  
       a drip guard partially surrounding the drum, the drip guard being positioned and sized to catch residue falling from the drum or the door panel and being pivotable between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position the drip guard partially surrounds the drum and in the second position the drip guard exposes the drum for cleaning; and,  
       wherein each of the side columns comprises a backplate and a cover plate, the backplate and cover plate cooperating to form the channel for guiding the door assembly, wherein at least a portion of one of either the backplate and the cover plate overlaps at least a portion of the other of the backplate and cover plate and the overlapping portion of one of either the backplate and the cover plate has a plurality of extending projections and the overlapping portion of the other of the backplate and cover plate has a plurality of openings for receiving the extending projections, thereby slidably attaching the cover plate to the backplate.  
     
     
       2. A roll-up overhead door assembly which is selectively moved up and down to open and close an opening and which is guided along a channel in side columns at opposed edges of the opening, the assembly having an open position, a closed position and a cleaning position, the assembly comprising: 
       a drum positioned proximate the top of the opening;  
       a flexible door panel connected to the drum;  
       a drip guard partially surrounding the drum, the drip guard being positioned and sized to catch residue falling from the drum or the door panel and being pivotable between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position the drip guard partially surrounds the drum and in the second position the drop guard exposes the drum for cleaning; and,  
       a drainage trough attached to a bottom portion of the door panel for collecting moisture falling from the door panel and being configured such that the trough has at least one inclined surface whereby the collected moisture flows toward at least one end of the trough and is cast away from the door panel.  
     
     
       3. The roll-up overhead door assembly of claim  2  wherein a bottom bar is attached proximate a bottom portion of the door panel and the drainage trough is connected to the bottom bar. 
     
     
       4. A roll-up overhead door assembly which is selectively moved up and down to open and close an opening and which is guided along a channel in side columns at opposed edges of the opening, the assembly having an open position, a closed position and a distinct cleaning position, the assembly comprising: 
       a drum positioned proximate the top of the opening;  
       a flexible door panel connected to the drum such that when the door assembly is in the open position the door panel is wound around the drum; and,  
       wherein each of the side columns comprises a backplate and a cover plate, the backplate and cover plate cooperating to form the channel for guiding the door assembly, wherein at least a portion of one of either the backplate and the cover plate overlaps at least a portion of the other of the backplate and cover plate and the overlapping portion of one of either the backplate and the cover plate has a plurality of extending projections and the overlapping portion of the other of the backplate and cover plate has a plurality of openings for receiving the extending projections, thereby slidably attaching the cover plate to the backplate.  
     
     
       5. The roll-up overhead door assembly of claim  4  wherein in the cleaning position the door panel projects downwardly from the drum, thereby exposing the entire door panel and the drum for cleaning. 
     
     
       6. The roll-up overhead door assembly of claim  4  wherein the door panel is connected to the drum by a hinge. 
     
     
       7. A roll-up overhead door assembly which is selectively moved up and down to open and close an opening and which is guided along a channel in side columns at opposed edges of the opening, the assembly having an open position, a closed position and a cleaning position, the assembly comprising: 
       a drum positioned proximate the top of the opening;  
       a flexible door panel connected to the drum such that when the door assembly is in the open position the door panel is wound around the drum; and,  
       a drainage trough attached to a bottom portion of the door panel for collecting moisture falling from the door panel and being configured such that the trough has at least one inclined surface whereby the collected moisture flows toward at least one end of the trough and is cast away from the door panel.  
     
     
       8. The roll-up overhead door assembly of claim  7  wherein in the cleaning position the door panel projects downwardly from the drum, thereby exposing the door panel and the drum for cleaning. 
     
     
       9. The roll-up overhead door assembly of claim  7  wherein the door panel is connected to the drum by a hinge. 
     
     
       10. A roll-up overhead door assembly which is selectively moved up and down to open and close an opening and which is guided along a channel in side columns at opposed edges of the opening, the assembly having distinct predetermined open, closed and cleaning positions, the assembly comprising: 
       a drum having a surface and being positioned proximate the top of the opening;  
       a motor for rotating the drum to the predetermined open, closed and cleaning positions;  
       a flexible door panel having a top and bottom portion, the top portion being connected to the drum such that when the door assembly is in the open position the door panel is wound around the drum, the door panel being sized such that when the door assembly is in the closed position the door panel projects downwardly from the drum and does not significantly cover the surface of the drum, and wherein when the door assembly is in the cleaning position the door panel projects downwardly from the drum, thereby exposing the door panel and the drum;  
       the side columns comprising a backplate and a cover plate removably connected to the backplate, respectively, the backplate and cover plate cooperating to form the channel for guiding the door assembly up and down;  
       a drip guard partially surrounding the drum, the drip guard being positioned and sized to catch residue falling from the drum or the door panel and being pivotable between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position the drip guard partially surrounds the drum and in the second position the drip guard exposes the drum for cleaning; and,  
       a drainage trough attached to the bottom portion of the door panel for collecting moisture falling from the door panel and being configured such that the trough has at least one inclined surface whereby the collected moisture flows toward at least one end of the trough and is cast away from the door panel.